About the project

MiniBrum, Thinktank’s Early Years STEM gallery, is one of Birmingham Museums’ flagship co-produced, research‑driven exhibitions development programmes. It demonstrates how collaborative research and co‑production can transform museum practice, visitor experience, and sector innovation within STEM gallery experiences.

The gallery was developed entirely through Early Years co‑production and was supported by several community organisations, nurseries, and primary schools. Activities included:

• Play‑based workshops guided by Montessori and Reggio Emilia principles
• Collaborative object selection from museum collections
• Child‑led development of interactives, displays, and role‑play spaces
• Schools also led content development, including the Mini‑Museum and Jewellery Factory exhibitions

MiniBrum involved close collaboration with three universities, each contributing specialist research expertise. Universities worked with schools and early years children to co-produce aspects of the gallery content and activities, using this experience to drive their own research programmes in early years development and public health:
University of Birmingham – collaborative doctoral research into children’s play, behaviour and gender in STEM spaces, informing gallery design and layout led by Dr Soni Rishi
De Montfort University – co‑production of A Germ’s Journey resources and the widely used Handwashing Song, later evaluated in the Nursing Times
Birmingham City University – co-creation of an accessible Welcome video in collaboration with children with learning difficulties

Links:

• Book tickets to visit MiniBrum at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.